Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Throughout the month we will be exploring topics of Social Connections & Recreation, Work-Life Balance, Humor, and Spirituality & Religion as ways to boost mental health and general wellness. Living a healthy lifestyle will increase both our mental and physical health. According to Jim Salasek, PhD., of CSI, “Finding a reason to laugh, going for a walk with a friend, meditating, or working from home once a week can go a long way in making you both physically and mentally healthy – it’s all about finding the right balance to benefit both the mind and body.”

Overlooking our physical and mental health is easy to do, until there is a problem. Finding the right balance for everyone at every age is hard to do. Quite often people are afraid of the stigma associated with mental illness. However, mental disorders are common and often treatable. An estimated 50 million people in the United States experience a mental health disorder at some point in their lives but unfortunately only one quarter of these people will receive mental health services.

“We all know that living a healthy lifestyle is not always easy; however, it is attainable. By gradually making small changes, achieving a few goals at a time, and building on those successes we can individually set the bar for our overall mental and physical well-being. Doing too many things at once can be overwhelming. Start with a small number of goals and once you have mastered those, move onto others.” Brittani Woods (NAMI of Fond du Lac Co., Suicide Loss Survivor). “Finding ways to balance your energy between work, home, community, and the general ups and downs of life will help you maintain your physical and mental health. It will also help you achieve overall wellness of your mind, body, and soul. Exchanging positive energy with each other and building relationships in our community helps fuel connections, and when we feel connected to something greater than ourselves, we thrive.”

What can YOU do to raise awareness about the importance of mental health?

• Click on the image to the left to see an overview of the four identified topic areas, and feel free to share it within your organization or with family and friends!
• Watch the CSI Facebook page for updates throughout the month, and like and share our posts.
• Explore our website to learn more about the different initiatives within our county aimed at improving the mental health and well-being of all residents, and CONTACT US if you’d like to become involved!